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CHICAGO –– The newest member of the Dodgers wore blue sweatpants, a cut-off blue hoodie, and a blue “LA” branded headband as he discussed joining the organization for the first time on Monday.
Tarik Skubal, the reigning two-time Cy Young Award winner and marquee trade acquisition from the Detroit Tigers this week, spent the better part of 15 minutes inside a stadium club at Wrigley Field answering questions about his blockbuster move, describing his excitement to join the Dodgers despite his emotional exit from the Tigers on Saturday.
“There’s a lot of emotion,” Skubal said in his first press availability since joining his new team. “I spent eight years with the Detroit Tigers, and that place will always be special to me no matter what. But in the same breath, I’m excited to be here, I’m excited to compete with these guys. And when you watch them from across the way, or just see them do their thing on TV, you just have a lot of respect, because they play the game the right way.”
Indeed, Skubal went on to praise how “the entire focus of this organization is on winning championships,” how he hopes to aid them in their quest for a third-straight World Series, and the “honor” he took in arriving with such lofty expectations.
“That pressure has always been a privilege to me,” Skubal said. “It’s what fuels me. It’s motivates me to be great.”
The spotlight on Skubal, of course, has been growing for several years now, thanks to his unexpected ascension from a late-blooming ninth-round draft pick to arguably the most dominant pitcher currently in the game.
Still, the scrutiny only figures to grow now.
Because he’s coming to Los Angeles. Because he was the most coveted player at this year’s deadline. And because he’s joining a Dodgers franchise that continues to be painted by many as villains of the sport –– their addition of Skubal only enflaming such narratives.
“Every team could trade for me, every team could make that acquisition,” Skubal said when asked about the public criticisms that came with his move, one that renewed complaints about MLB’s supposed lack of competitive balance and the Dodgers’ dominance over the rest of the league.
“I don’t really sympathize with people that blame the Dodgers for anything they’ve done. They’ve developed a really good organization. They draft well. They acquire talent really well. They retain talent. It’s a winning organization. Now the complaints seem to be [happening] because they’ve won the last two World Series. I don’t think it was like that three years ago. So I don’t really sympathize with people that are complaining. Because the Dodgers do all the right things.”
One of the things the Dodgers have done well, after all, is target and secure superstar-caliber players like Skubal when they become available.
It’s why they were seen as his likeliest landing spot at this year’s deadline. And why, as the 29-year-old heads toward free agency this offseason, many will expect him to stay in Los Angeles on a potential record-setting contract.
“I’m really not gonna talk about the business side of what’s happening with me,” he said when asked about his looming free-agent process, and whether the Dodgers might now have an advantage. “Obviously, I understand free agency. But I’d really like the message to be just, I’m excited to be here and learn everything about the Dodgers and all these guys here. You know, develop relationships and win as many baseball games as I can.”
To that end, Skubal’s journey will begin Tuesday, when he will make his team debut just days after his trade was executed.
“I’m going to get with the pitching coaches and catcher and kind of go over a plan of scouting, what I like to do, what they like to call, all that stuff,” he said. “I’m very excited about going over all that and getting ready to go out there and compete.”
And from there, Skubal is hoping to keep competing all the way through the end of October.
He downplayed the notion he’s any missing piece to their pursuit for a three-peat. “They’ve been a pretty good baseball team without me,” he quipped. He said he wants to be a “chameleon” in the clubhouse to “fit right into these guys and just gel with them.” But he also said his goals were “aligned” with their’s, as he eyes what would be his first World Series –– and one for the Dodgers that would further cement their ongoing dynasty.
“I’m excited to lean on these guys and learn the game of baseball and what it takes to win a World Series,” he said. “I’m excited about all that stuff, so it’s extremely motivating for me.”
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